Kabbalah/Chassidut

JEWISH MYSTICISM ENGLISH READING LIST

by Rabbi Moshe
Wisnefsky

This is a bibliograpy of basic works in English on Jewish mysticism:
Kabbalah, Chassidism and Jewish meditation. It includes only works that
we consider reliable and authoritative (although even many of these books
have some shortcomings). There are more acceptable works than are listed
here; these are the ones that we have found to be most useful.

Many of
the books on the market misinterpret Judaism; some innocently, some deliberately.
This is especially true of books on Jewish mysticism. Therefore, one has to exercise
extra care when choosing reading material on this subject.

For example,
none of the books by Gershom Scholem or Martin Buber appear on our list. Despite
the success these authors have had in popularizing Jewish mysticism, their works
are either riddled with inaccuracies or plagued with the inevitable distortions
of an author who is only academically involved in his subject, but remains uncommitted
to its practice.

A complete
translation of this seminal work in Kabbalah in all three of its extant versions.
The text is explained both as a description of creation and as a meditative guide,
based both on standard commentaries and unpublished manuscripts. Histor­ical introduction
and appendices.

THE FUNDAMENTALS OF JEWISH MYSTICISM: The
Book of Creation and Its Commentaries (Sefer Yetzirah, bilingual). Translated
by Leonard R. Glotzer. Northvale, NJ:Jason Aronson,
1992, 258 pp.

A translation of Sefer Yetzirah with
explanations anthologized from the classic commentaries on this text. Historical
introduction and appendices.

Annotated selections from the basic work
of Kabbalah. Detailed introduction covering the history and basic concepts of
Kabbalah. Volume 1 covers the first half of the first of the original’s three
volumes.

Includes the original Aramaic text of the crucial "Sabba D'Mishpatim
section of the Zohar, a lucid, readable translation of it, and an incisive
line-by-line expanatory commentary, followed by 21 appendices to broaden
the reader's understanding of the main themes.

Classic work on the subject, comprised of the teachings of
the holy Ari of Safed, as transmitted by his main disciple, Rabbi Chaim
Vital. Includes valuable information on the nature of the divine soul
and our goal in life. Much more extensive explanatory interpolated notes
can be found on our KabbalaOnline.org website in the section, Gate of
Reincarnations.

Reshit Chochmah is a major classic mystical-ethical treatise
from the Safed "Golden Age of Kabbalah," written by an important disciple
of the Ramak and the Ari. This book contains an excellent translation
of one of the five "gates" of the original, as well as some wide-ranging
introductory material, an articulate and helpful glossary of terms, and
an index of themes.

A selection of the
Kabbalistic Torah commentaries of the early 17th century chief rabbi
of Cracow, Frankfort and Jerusalem, constituting about one third of the original.
The translation is, unfortunately, somewhat awkward..

An topically-arranged anthology culled from 12 books
of the most famous Moroccan kabbalist of all, Rabbi Yaakov Abuchatzeira (1807-1880),
grandfather of our century's inestimable "Baba Sali" - Rabbi Yisrael Abuchatzeira.
Unfortunately, the high proportion of the kabbala content of the original has
been significantly reduced.

The classic statement of Chabad
Chassidism. Book I (Likutei Amarim or Tanya) deals with the service
of G‑d, Book II (Sha’ar HaYichud VehaEmunah) with philosophical foundations
of Chassidism, Book III (Igeret HaTeshuvah) with teshuvah, Books
IV (Igeret HaKodesh) and V (Kuntres Acharon) are collections of
letters and notes by the author, the most mystical being No. 20 of Book IV. The
translators’ introductions, notes and a glossary, as well as Rabbi Schochet’s
Mystical Concepts in Chassidism [see above] are found in the back of the
book.

Nine of the more than 50 essays of the original, one of (after
Tanya) the most fundamental and popular books of Chabad chasidut. Each
essay paraphrases Sefer HaChinuch on one of the 613 commandments, and
then analyzes its mystical dimensions.

A discourse on the unity of G-d, exploring a number of theological motifs.
Composed in 1869 by the fourth Lubavitcher Rebbe, In lucid, close translation,
with extensive annotations, footnotes and commentary.

A
discourse introducing some of the basic concepts of chasidism and kabbala,
and in a relatively user-friendly format and with extensive study aids.
Despite its title, it is germane throughout the year.

Last Chassidic discourse by the previous
Lubavitcher Rebbe, in which he details the specific nature of this generation’s
spirituality. Includes also the first Chassidic discourse of his successor, the
present Rebbe.

Translations of Chassidic discourses of the Lubavitcher Rebbe
that focus on the Redemption and its ultimate consummation, the Resurrection of
the Dead – seven in the first volume, eight in the second. The first volume includes
the last discourse edited by the Rebbe for publication before his stroke in 1992.

An impressively
lucid translation of the introduction to the author's commentary on the Zohar,
the Sulam ("ladder"), and his explanation of the teachings of the holy
Ari, Talmud Esser Sefirot. Supplemented with lots of historical background and
key definitions, as well as sincere personal testimony as to the benefits of the
teachings contained within.

Basing herself on a talmudic
discussion of the creation of the sun and moon, the brilliant founder of One
Small Voice (a correspondence school) translates both the Talmud section and
six kabbalistic texts concerned with the nature of the feminine and annotates
and explicates all of them in great depth. Each text is introduced by a short
summary and a lengthy synopsis, and concluded with a "debriefing" that
includes "what we don't know."

TO TOUCH THE DIVINE:
A JEWISH MYSTICISM PRIMER. Compiled and edited by Benzion and Hinda Rader.
New York: Kehot, 1989, 144 pp.

Papers from
the International Symposium on Jewish Mysticism held in London in the early Eighties.
Among the participants are Rabbis Steinsaltz and Schochet, cited above, and Jonathan
Sacks, the Chief Rabbi of England.

Rabbi
Ginsburgh painstakingly explains and demonstrates how meditation is meant to refine
our intellect to become a channel for Divine consciousness, so that it can infuse
our day-to-day consciousness. He refutes the common understanding that meditation
as an attempt to clear the mind in order to transcend the intellect.

The Sochachov Rebbe was as well known as a Torah scholar as
he was as an inspirational Chasidic leader. The anthology was thoughtfully
assembled and translated from the nine-volume Hebrew original.

LIVING THE KABBALA: A Guide to the Sabbath and Festivals in the
Teachings of Rabbi Rafael Moshe Luria. Selected, edited and
translated by Simcha H. Benyosef. New York: Continuum, 1999. 226 pp.

Rafael-Moshe Luria, a descendent of Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, is a contemporary
teacher of Kabbala in Jerusalem. The translator is a former close student
of the famed Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan of blessed memory, and received a blessing
from Rav Luria for this project.

Based on Jewish mystic
principles, the author states that the purpose of Jewish marriage is to enable
the couple to manifest the unity of their original undifferentiated spiritual
essence into the context of everyday life. With many illustrations from Biblical
personalities and Kabbalistic theory, he shows how today’s Jewish couple can actualize
these ideals in their daily life through the threefold process of establishing
an effective relationship, fostering togetherness, and finally, merging in true
oneness.

The author examines the uniquely feminine soul powers of Jewish women, and the
implications thereof for perfecting the Creation. She offers insight into the
feminine cycles of birth and pregnancy, the inner dynamics of the three mitzvot
that women specialize in, and the feminine imagery found in Kabbalah.

A somewhat esoteric but interesting
statement of the Kabbalistic world‑scheme, and three short essays on Kabbalah
and the sciences. Also somewhat disorganized and stiffly translated.

RECTIFYING
THE STATE OF ISRAEL: A Political Platform Based on Kabbalah. Rabbi
Yitzchak Ginsburgh. Rehovot, Israel: Gal Einai, 2002.
230 pp.

The author's thesis is that while secular Zionism has succeeded
in creating material vessels, developing industry, infrastructure and educational
institutions, it has willfully neglected the inner, spiritual dimension of the
vessels themselves. "The light inherent in the Zionist dream is indeed great,
but its vessels are small and immature, unable to contain and integrate the light
of the dream. The result: the very light shatters its own vessels." The book
showcases his program for rectifying the ills of the State of Israel.

The author offers the fundamental elements of a system of Kabbalistic
psychotherapy. He highlights many ways in which the Jewish mystical path to psychological
well-being both agrees with and differs from the dominant schools of modern psychology,
including the pivotal role played by the therapist. His goal is to show how we
can empower our souls to rise above our egos and submit to God, and how we can
separate out the negative influences of our lives and heal our psychological wounds.

Primarily derived from Etz Chayim
by Rabbi Chayim Vital, the primary recorder of the teachings of the holy Ari of
Safed. The author tries to show how to apply the wisdom in the Kabbala to everyday
life activities such as business, pleasure, and politics.

Finally, a complete translation of the rich exhaustive discussion
of the Exodus and its lessons by one of the most famous rabbis in history,
the Maharal of Prague. Includes a small amount of mystic content.

An
exploration of how an understanding of some of the deeper ideas and patterns of
Torah thought can illuminate our everyday experiences. Time, imagination, and
laughter are three examples of the wide range of topics covered.

A SPIRITUAL
GUIDE TO THE COUNTING OF THE OMER: Forty-nine Steps to Personal Refinement According
to the Jewish Tradition. Simon Jacobson. Brooklyn: Vaad Hanochos
Hatamim, 1996.

Pithy advice for each day between Passover and Shavuot,
based on Chasidic teachings. Also contains, introductions, appendices, and rcommended
exercises in a convenient Spiral notepad format.

The author has taken what originally were mostly
lengthy teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe and impossibly contracted them to pithy
lyrical aphorisms fitting one or two to a page. They are grouped in topical associations.

Australia's
best known mystic uses the ten Sefirot to understand the way the human
soul, emotions and mind work together to provide us with harmony and balance.
Rabbi Wolf explains how to harness and welcome these energies so that we can become
what he calls "an artist of the soul," which in turn eliminates negative
traits like anger, pessimism, and insecurity.

ASCENT TO HARMONY.
Rabbi Elie Munk. New York0: Feldheim, 1987, 93 pp.

An inspired
rendering of the meaning of Creation and its purpose according to Kabbalah.

A reprint of the 1947 underground classic, exposing both gross and subtle
errors in standard translation of the first eleven chapters of Genesis.
The author successfully explains the authentic Jewish approach to Scripture
without resorting to technical terms. He also provides interesting insights
on the relationship between Torah and science.

THE POSSIBLE MAN: Life in the Shadow of the Just. Meir Michel
Abehsera. Brooklyn: Swan House, 1992, 243 pp.

A lyrical presentation, by a scion of the Abuhatzera clan, touching upon
the spiritual journey and its pitfalls, and on the role of the just (tzadik).

THERE IS ONE.Gutman Locks. Jerusalem: author,
1989. 206 pp.

This
book consists of 143 short but profound and thought-provoking segments and parables
about G-d and existence and us. You will be challenged and encouraged no matter
where you presently are in your journey of the soul.

ENDLESS LIGHT.
David Aaron. New York: Berkeley; 1998.
176 pp.

The founder of Isralight presents teachings
of kabbalah as a source of personal and spiritual sustenance. Using Biblical episodes
and other Jewish texts and traditions along with numerous personal anecdotes,
Rabbi Aaron makes it comprehensible to anyone seeking a new understanding of God,
the world, and themselves.

Moshe Yaakov
Wisnefsky is one of the founders of Ascent of Safed. He presently lives and writes
in Jerusalem, where he is the chief editor for the Lubavitcher Rebbe's Chumash
and for the English division of Gal Einai (Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh).